Revisiting the Electron-Doped SmFeAsO:Enhanced Superconductivity up to58.6K by Th and F Codoping

In the iron-based high-T_c bulk superconductors, T_c above 50 K was only observed in the electron-doped 1111-type compounds. Here we revisit the electron-doped SmFeAsO polycrystals to make a further investigation for the highest T_c in these materials. To introduce more electron carriers and less crystal lattice distortions, we study the Th and F codoping effects into the Sm-O layers with heavy electron doping. Dozens of Sm_(1-x)Th_x FeAsO_(1-y)F_y samples are synthesized through the solid state reaction method, and these samples are carefully characterized by the structural, resistive, and magnetic measurements. We find that the codoping of Th and F clearly enhances the superconducting T_c more than the Th or F single-doped samples, with the highest record T_c up to 58.6 K when x=0.2 and y=0.225. Further element doping causes more impurities and lattice distortions in the samples with a weakened superconductivity.     

Synthesis and superconductivity in yttrium superhydrides under high pressure

Flourishing rare earth superhydrides are a class of recently discovered materials that exhibit near-room-temperature superconductivity at high pressures, ushering in a new era of superconductivity research at high pressures. Yttrium superhydrides drew the most attention among these superhydrides due to their abundance of stoichiometries and excellent superconductivities. Here, we carried out a comprehensive study of yttrium superhydrides in a wide pressure range of 140 GPa—300 GPa. We successfully synthesized a series of superhydrides with the compositions of YH₄, YH₆, YH₇, and YH₉, and reported superconducting transition temperatures of 82 K at 167 GPa, 218 K at 165 GPa, 29 K at 162 GPa, and 230 K at 300 GPa, respectively, as evidenced by sharp drops in resistance. The structure and superconductivity of YH₄ were taken as a representative example and were also examined using x-ray diffraction measurements and the superconductivity suppression under external magnetic fields, respectively. Clathrate YH₁₀, a candidate for room-temperature superconductor, was not synthesized within the study pressure and temperature ranges of up to 300 GPa and 2000 K. The current study established a detailed foundation for future research into room-temperature superconductors in polynary yttrium-based superhydrides.     

高温高压合成顶角氧掺杂型高温超导系列

 简要介绍了(Sr,Ca)_n+1Cu_nO_2n(Cl,O)₂,即三元数法的Cl-“02n”（或四元数Cl-02(n-1)n）超导系列,简称Cl-系超导体。和通常的高温超导体不同,Cl-系的电荷库由卤化物构成,而非通常的氧化物。即Cl-系的导电区和电荷库由顶角氯连接,根据这一结构特点用“顶角氧”掺杂,高压合成了T_c≈80 K的(Sr,Ca)₃Cu₂O₄(Cl,O)₂超导体。该化合物具有和全氧化物高温超导体可比的超导性能,表明高温高压合成全新的卤氧超导新材料的潜力,以及开发卤氧化物高温超导体群的研究前景。     

T型石墨烯及其衍生物的结构与电子特性

采用基于密度泛函理论的第一原理方法研究了T型石墨烯及其衍生物-n(n=1—5)的结构稳定性和电子结构性质.T型石墨烯是一种拥有四角形环的二维碳材料同素异构体,通过改变连接四角形环的碳链上的碳原子个数n,可以得到一系列的sp-sp~2杂化结构,称其为T型石墨烯衍生物-n.计算结果表明:这些材料的结构稳定性、化学键类型和电子结构性质都依存于n的奇偶性.其中T型石墨烯(n=0)的结构最稳定,并形成一个由8个碳原子构成的大环.声子谱计算的结果表明,n为偶数时的体系具有动力学稳定性,而n为奇数时的体系则是不稳定的.n为偶数时体系四角形环之间的碳链上的化学键呈单、三键交叉排列,体系显示为金属性特征,且随着n的增大,体系的金属性加强.n为奇数时体系四角形环之间的碳链上的化学键则为双键连续排列,体系呈金属性且具有磁性(n=1除外).研究表明该系列材料作为一种新的二维碳材料同素异构体,具有独特的结构和丰富的电子结构特性,很可能在纳米器件中得到广泛应用.     

HIGH-PRESSURE SYNTHESIS OF MgB2 SUPER-CONDUCTOR WITH Tc ABOVE 39 K

We report on the high-pressure synthesis and superconductivity of MgB₂ intermetallic compounds. The compounds have been obtained through high-pressure sintering of the mixtures of magnesium and boron fine powders under 5.0 GPa and at ～1000℃ for 30 min. Magnetic measurements using a SQUID magnetometer show the sharp bulk superconducting transition above 39 K; the four-probe dc resistivity measurements indicate the highly-conductive normal state and sharp superconducting transition. The results highlight that high-pressure synthesis would be a promising way to promote the studies of this new kind of intermetallic superconductors.     

Synthesis of novel transition metal nitrides IrN2 and OsN2

Two new transition metal nitrides, IrN2 and OsN2, were synthesized at high pressures and temperatures using laser-heated diamond-anvil cell techniques. Synchrotron x-ray diffraction was used to determine the structures of novel nitrides and the equations of states of both the parent metals as well as the newly synthesized materials. The compounds have bulk moduli comparable with those of the traditional superhard materials. For IrN2, the measured bulk modulus [K0 = 428(12) GPa] is second only to that of diamond (K0 = 440 GPa). Ab initio calculations indicate that both compounds have a metal:nitrogen stoichiometry of 1:2 and that nitrogen intercalates in the lattice of the parent metal in the form of single-bonded N-N units.     

Superconductivity in electron-doped arsenene

Based on the first-principles density functional theory electronic structure calculation,we investigate the possible phonon-mediated superconductivity in arsenene,a two-dimensional buckled arsenic atomic sheet,under electron doping.We find that the strong superconducting pairing interaction results mainly from the pz-like electrons of arsenic atoms and the A1 phonon mode around the K point,and the superconducting transition temperature can be as high as 30.8 K in the arsenene with 0.2 doped electrons per unit cell and 12%-applied biaxial tensile strain.This transition temperature is about ten times higher than that in the bulk arsenic under high pressure.It is also the highest transition temperature that is predicted for electron-doped two-dimensional elemental superconductors,including graphene,silicene,phosphorene,and borophene.     

插层FeSe高温超导体的高压研究进展

通过对FeSe进行化学插层可以将其超导转变温度（T_c）从约8 K提高到40 K以上,实现高温超导电性.最近,我们对两种插层FeSe高温超导材料（Li_0.84Fe_0.16）OHFe_0.98Se和Li_0.36（NH₃）_yFe₂Se₂开展了高压调控研究,发现压力会首先抑制高温超导相（称为SC-I相）,然后在临界压力P_c以上诱导出第二个高温超导相（称为SC-Ⅱ相）,呈现出双拱形T-P超导相图.这两个体系的P_c分别约为5和2 GPa,两个体系SC-Ⅱ相的最高T_c分别可以达到约52和55 K,比相应SC-I相的初始T_c提高了10 K.对（Li_0.84Fe_0.16）OHFe_0.98Se的正常态电输运性质分析表明,SC-I和SC-Ⅱ相的正常态分别具有费米液体和非费米液体行为,意味着这两个超导相可能存在显著差异.此外,还发现这两个体系的SC-Ⅱ相的T_c与霍尔系数倒数1/R_H（∝载流子浓度n_e）具有很好的线性依赖关系.对（Li_0.84Fe_0.16）OHFe_0.98Se的高压X射线衍射测量排除了其在10 GPa以内发生结构相变的可能,因此P_c以上SC-Ⅱ相的出现和载流子浓度的增加很可能起源于压力导致的费米面重构.     

新型铁基超导体材料的研究进展

文章主要介绍了碱金属插层法合成新型铁基超导体的研究进展.通过采用碱金属K对FeSe层状材料插层的方法,得到了一种新型的铁基超导体K0.8Fe1.7Se2,并对该材料的晶体结构与物性进行了研究.结果表明,该化合物的超导转变温度达到30K,这是FeSe体系在常压下的最高超导转变温度.同时,观察到该体系中存在转变温度为43K的超导相,但未得到纯相.通过磁性元素Co的掺杂研究,进一步加深了对K0.8Fe1.7Se2体系超导演化规律的认识.该超导体的发现对深入认识铁基超导体的超导机理,探索具有更高超导转变温度的铁基超导体具有重要意义.     

高压下氢基高温超导体研究的新进展

富氢材料被认为是室温超导体的最佳候选体系,是物理学、材料科学等多学科的热点研究领域之一。理论和实验研究发现的新型共价氢化物H3S和笼状氢化物LaH10的超导转变温度(T_c)均超过200 K,进一步推动了对富氢化合物超导电性的探索。最近,通过高压实验合成的碳质硫氢化物在288 K的室温下实现了零电阻,让人们看到了室温超导的曙光。本文结合课题组在此领域的主要成果,介绍了3类典型富氢化合物的结构及超导特性,包括近期首次在层状氢化物中发现的具有类五角石墨烯结构的富氢超导体HfH₁₀,其超导转变温度高达213~234 K。     

压力下碱金属铁硒基超导体中的现象与物理

在凝聚态物理研究中, 压力作为对物质状态调控的独立变量得到了广泛的应用. 压力对发现物质的新现象、新规律及对其形成机理的理解和对相关理论的验证起到了重要的作用, 尤其在超导电性的研究中取得了巨大的成功. 文章简要的介绍了通过利用压力手段对具有相分离结构的碱金属铁硒基超导体A_xFe_2-ySe₂ (A=K, Rb, Tl/Rb)开展的系列研究所取得的实验结果, 以及其他一些文献中报道的在此方面的主要实验与理论研究工作, 包括压力导致的超导再进入现象和其产生的量子临界机理、其特有的反铁磁绝缘体相在该类超导体实现超导电性中的作用、化学负压力对超导电性的影响、构成该类超导体的反铁磁序与其寄居的超晶格的关系等.     

Developments in the processing of bulk (RE)BCO superconductors

The development of a practical processing method for the fabrication of high performance large, single grain bulk superconductors is essential for their cost-effective application in a variety of high field engineering devices. We discuss recent developments in the processing of these materials that enable high performance bulk superconductors to be fabricated in a practical way. These include the introduction of nano-scale second phase inclusions to the superconducting phase matrix, the development of a generic seed crystal, the development of practical, batch processing routes for the fabrication of light rare earth superconductors, the processing of complex shaped geometries via controlled multi-seeding and recycling of scrap bulk samples into high performance, single grains.     

In-situ spectroscopic studies and interfacial engineering on FeSe/oxide heterostructures: Insights on the interfacial superconductivity

The discovery of high temperature superconductivity in single-layer FeSe/SrTiO3 provides a new platform for exploring superconductivity and pursuing higher Tc(superconducting transition temperature) through fabricating artificial heterostructures. In this paper, we review the recent progress in studying and tuning the interfacial superconductivity in single-layer FeSe, through the combined in-situ spectroscopic studies and atomic-scale engineering. By fabricating artificial heterostructures, various interfacial factors were tuned, and the corresponding evolutions of electronic structure and superconducting gap behavior were investigated. These studies enrich the current understanding on the interfacial superconductivity, and provide clues for further enhancing Tc through interface engineering.     

First-principles study on superconductive properties of compressive strain-engineered cryogenic superconducting heavy metal lead(Pb)

As one of the main materials in the practical application.of superconductor,lead(Pb)has been used to manufacture superconducting AC power cable,and some weak current fields.With the development of manufacturing,technology,more and more researchers focus on exploring the physical and chemical properties of cryogenic superconducting materials,instead of blindly pursuing the improvement of the superconducting transition temperature(T_c).In this paper,the structural properties and superconducting transition temperature under high pressure of Pb have been studied by first-principles calculations.It has shown that Pb can withstand the compressive strain up to 10%while the lattice structure remains stable,indicated by the calculations of phonon band structures.From 0%to 10%compressive strain,there is neither a band-gap nor changing of the band structure.The.changing of electronic DOS.at the Fermi level leads to a decreasing of T_c.Our calculations show that Pb is a stable elemental metallic superconductor even under high pressure,which explains the reason why it has been used in practical productions.     

Superconductivity in doped polyethylene at high pressure

In this work we study the pressure-dependent phase diagram of polyethylene (H₂C)_x from 50 to 200 GPa. Low-symmetry, organic polymeric phases, that are dynamically stable and thermodynamically competitive with elemental decomposition, are reported. Electronic structure calculations reveal that the band gap of the lowest energy polymeric phase decreases from 5.5 to 4.5 eV in the 50–200 GPa range, but metalization occurs only for pressures well above 500 GPa. The possibility of metalization via doping was also investigated, observing that it can be achieved through boron substitution at carbon sites. We report a sizable electron-phonon coupling (λ ? 0.79) in this metallic phase, with an estimated superconducting transition temperature of about 35 K. However, a rather narrow domain of stability is found; most of the dopant elements render the polymeric phases unstable and induce amorphization. This suggests that doping under pressure, though presenting an alternative route to find high temperature superconductors, would be challenging to achieve experimentally.     

铜氧化合物超导体Pr1-xCaxBa2Cu3O7-δ的高压合成

 高温高压下合成出了新块材超导体Pr_1-xCa_xBa₂Cu₃O_7-δ（0.4≤x≤0.6）,高压合成使Ca在Pr-123相中的溶解度有很大提高,从而有效地补偿了Pr对CuO₂面空穴的填充而使样品超导。     

High Tc superconductivity in layered hydrides XH15 (X = Ca,Sr, Y,La) under high pressures

The theoretical predictions and experimental synthesis of H₃S and LaH₁₀ superconductors with record high superconducting transition temperatures (T_c) have promoted the hydrogen-based superconducors to be a research hotspot in the field of solid-state physics. Here, we predict an unprecedented layered structure CaH₁₅, with high T_c of 189 K at 200 GPa using ab initio calculations. As concerns the novel structure, one layer is made of a hydrogen nonagon, the other layer consists of a Ca atom and six H₂ molecular units surrounding the Ca atom. This layered structure was also found in SrH₁₅, YH₁₅, and LaH₁₅ at high pressures, each materials exhibit high T_c especially YH₁₅ can reach above 200 K at 220 GPa. It represents the second class of layered superhydrides with high value of T_c after pentagraphene like HfH₁₀.     

Pressure-induced phase transitions in the ZrXY (X= Si,Ge, Sn;Y= S,Se, Te) family compounds

Pressure is an effective and clean way to modify the electronic structures of materials, cause structural phase transitions and even induce the emergence of superconductivity. Here, we predicted several new phases of the ZrXY family at high pressures using the crystal structures search method together with first-principle calculations. In particular, the ZrGeS compound undergoes an isosymmetric phase transition from P4/nmm-I to P4/nmm-II at approximately 82 GPa. Electronic band structures show that all the high-pressure phases are metallic. Among these new structures, P4/nmm-II ZrGeS and P4/mmm ZrGeSe can be quenched to ambient pressure with superconducting critical temperatures of approximately 8.1 K and 8.0 K, respectively. Our study provides a way to tune the structure, electronic properties, and superconducting behavior of topological materials through pressure.     

Anomalous pressure dependence of the superconducting transition temperature of beta-pyrochlore AOs2O6 oxides

High-pressure effects on the superconducting transitions of beta-pyrochlore oxide superconductors AOs(2)O(6) (A = Cs,Rb,K) are studied by measuring resistivity under high pressures up to 10 GPa. The superconducting transition temperature T(c) first increases with increasing pressure in every compound and then exhibits a broad maximum at 7.6 K (6 GPa), 8.2 K (2 GPa), and 10 K (0.6 GPa) for A = Cs, Rb, and K, respectively. Finally, the superconductivity is suppressed completely at a critical pressure near 7 GPa and 6 GPa for A = Rb and K and probably above 10 GPa for A = Cs. Characteristic changes in the coefficient A of the T(2) term in resistivity and residual resistivity are observed, both of which are synchronized with the corresponding change in T(c).     

高压下氢基超导体的研究进展

实现室温超导一直是人们长期追寻的梦想,寻找和合成出具有室温超导性的新材料已成为 凝聚态物理学家和材料物理学家的“圣杯”。近年来,随着理论和实验相继发现超导临界温度高于 200 K 的 H3S 和 LaH10,氢基超导体已逐渐成为实现室温超导的最佳候选,成为物理学、材料科 学等多学科研究的热点领域之一。在本文中,我们将概述超导材料的发展历史和几种典型超导材 料,重点介绍当前高压下氢基超导体的研究进展及面临的挑战,详细讨论中低压力范围氢基高温 超导体的设计思路,展望氢基超导体在低压甚至常压下实现高温乃至室温的可能性。